Thousands line the streets as Martin crashes out in dramatic opening team-time-trial in Belfast

You know that theory that you cannot win a Grand Tour on the opening days time-trial but you can lose it? Well, never before has that been so evident as it was today in Belfast for the team-time-trial to start this years Giro d'Italia. A dramatic day of edge-of-your-seat action surrounded by an amazing turn out of fans generating a 21.7 kilometre wall of noise despite the changeable conditions that seen the race play into the hands of some, already begin to slip away from others, and totally vanish for Dan Martin.

And it was those changeable conditions that played a big part in the script. Hot favourite for the event, Orica GreenEdge drew an early start and made the most of the dry course, avoiding the rain that only began to fall toward the back end of their run, to post a time that stood up for the rest of the day. As a result their first man across the line -- birthday boy, Svein Tuft of Canada -- pulled on the first Maglia Rosa jersey of this years Giro. A fantastic story, but one that was overshadowed by another event out on the circuit.

Just last night when putting tougher a last minute preview of the Giro -- and in particular the weekends racing in Northern Ireland -- I tipped Irishman, Dan Martin, as one of three to watch. My thinking was that maybe, just maybe, with the race starting on the island of Ireland the stars might align in his favour and that he would take the next big step in his career. Sadly though the 'luck of the Irish' that we all thought might come his way, did not. A massive crash that came about when Martin himself slipped on a wet manhole, brought down the majority of his team and ended his Giro dream with a broken collarbone barely before it had begun.

It was the only moment in which the onlooking crowd that happened to be in front of the big-screens were stunned into silence.

That was the most dramatic example of the weather playing its part and it brought back memories of a Tour de France prologue in 1995 when hot British favourite to win the day, Chris Boardman, crashed in the wet in Saint-Brieuc ending his participation in the race, though this might have been bigger still given the races location and Martin's GC aspirations over the three week tour.

Another victim of the crash -- in relation to the overall battle for Pink -- was Ryder Hesjedal the Canadian winner of the Giro in 2012. Hesjedal didn't come down, but because the teams time is taken on the fifth man across the line and because fewer than five of them were left standing, the team were forced to wait and in doing so finished well back on the winning time posted by Orica GreenEdge. Hesjedal's Giro GC aspirations are essentially over.

Another big loser on the day was Joaqium Rodriguez, who's Katusha team had a nightmare in the wet conditions and finished 1 minute 33 seconds behind the Orica GreenEdge time, but more importantly, 1 minute 26 seconds behind Cadel Evans's BMC team who came in third on the day behind the Omega Pharma QuickStep team who took advantage of a drying course late to run Orica GreenEdge closest. Rodriguez also lost 38 seconds to the man many consider to be his biggest rival to win this Giro, Nairo Quintana. His Movistar were expected to finish near the front but had to settle for eighth.

All Irish hopes are not quite lost however. Martin may be gone, but Nicolas Roche's Tinkoff-Saxo team came in fourth, 23 seconds down on the winning time. Those time gaps between Evans, Roche, Quintana and Rodriguez, while small enough over a three week race, could yet prove significant.

So all in all it was a day in which the weather changed the fortunes for many but none more so than that of the Irish and Canadian contingents of Martin and Hesjedal respectively (one gone and one essentially out of contention) versus Roche and Tuft, the later who has turned a Lanterne Rouge finish in last years Tour de France into a Grand Tour lead to start this years Giro.

Tomorrow they all go again and I get the feeling we might see more drama again with the weather playing its part. That is only my speculation but what I can guarantee is more big crowds generating an atmosphere unique to the people of Northern Ireland all along the 218 km route. The fans done themselves proud today and its clear in what you read and hear from riders and media a like, that this was one of the better openings to a Grand Tour outside the events main country that they can remember.

I know as a Northern Irishman living abroad and watching a Grand Tour with Belfast as its back drop on my television, the surreal feeling quickly gave way to pride as the people, and the country, with assistance from the athletes themselves, of course, put on a fine show in front of a global audience.

Result

1. Orica Greenedge, 21.7 km in 24'45"

2. Omega Pharma QuickStep + 5 secs

3. BMC + 7 secs

4. Tinkoff-Saxo + 23 secs

5. Team Sky + 35 secs

6. Astana + 38 secs

Others

8. Movistar + 55 secs

19. Katusha + 1-33

22. Garmin-Sharp + 3-26